Harsh penalties likely for disgraced Chinese communist bigwig
Central News Agency
2012/09/30 15:42:48
Taipei, Sept. 30 (CNA) The Communist Party of China (CPC) expelled fallen politician Bo Xilai from the party Friday and said he will face criminal charges.
It also made a long overdue announcement of the opening of the 18th National Congress of the CPC in which a leadership change is expected to take place.
The decision is hardly surprising, as many signs had indicated that the CPC will not be lenient with the former CPC head of Chongqing City.
Bo's wife, Bogu Kailai, and his former police chief, Wang Lijun, have already been jailed in connection with the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood over a business dispute.
China's Xinhua news agency on Thursday gave a detailed account of witness testimonies over the murder of Heywood, which revealed Bo's role in the incident.
"Relevant testimonies from witnesses showed that Wang on Jan. 28 reported to the then-leading official of the CPC's Chongqing Committee that Bogu Kailai was highly suspected in the murder of Heywood."
Xinhua also reported that Bo instigated an illegal investigation of Wang's close aides.
The CPC's Poliburo accused Bo Friday of abusing his power, taking bribes and maintaining improper sexual relations with several women, among other crimes.
The Politburo also stressed that no one, no matter what rank, will be immune from party discipline, and that all party members should maintain a high level of consistency on party discipline.
The timing of announcing the date of the 18th National Congress -- scheduled to begin Nov. 8 -- along with Bo's expulsion, is also being seen as a sign that China views Bo's case as a hurdle on its road toward the leadership change in which Vice President Xi Jinping is tipped to become China's next president and CPC chief.
(By Huang Chi-kuan and Ann Chen)
ENDITEM/J
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
